ICD-10-CM 2027
ICD-10 code for chronic obstructive asthma
From the official ICD-10-CM alphabetic index entry “Asthma, asthmatic (bronchial) (catarrh) (spasmodic) › chronic obstructive”. Page updated September 29, 2026.
About coding chronic obstructive asthma
The ICD-10-CM code for chronic obstructive asthma is J44.89 (Other specified chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). The official index lists 2 more specific codes, so check the documentation for details such as type, cause, site or severity before settling on J44.89.
Within J44.8, choose J44.89 (Other specified chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) only when documentation doesn't support a more specific option: bronchiolitis obliterans and bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (J44.81).
It is not a CC or MCC, so as a secondary diagnosis it doesn't change the MS-DRG severity level.
In MS-DRG v44.0, it is part of the grouping logic for DRG 190 (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with MCC, relative weight 1.0748), DRG 191 (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with CC, relative weight 0.8261) and DRG 192 (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease without CC/MCC, relative weight 0.6288), in MDC 04 (Diseases and Disorders of the Respiratory System), as a principal or secondary diagnosis. The DRG a claim lands in depends on the principal diagnosis, procedures and any CC/MCC secondary diagnoses.
More specific chronic obstructive asthma codes (official index)
Common questions about chronic obstructive asthma ICD-10 codes
What is the ICD-10 code for chronic obstructive asthma?
- J44.89 — Other specified chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. More specific codes apply when the documentation supports them: J44.0, J44.1.
Is J44.89 billable?
- Yes. J44.89 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code valid for FY2027 (October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027).
Can J44.89 be used as a principal diagnosis?
- Yes. The Medicare Code Editor doesn't restrict J44.89 as a principal diagnosis.
Is J44.89 a CC or MCC?
- No. J44.89 is neither a CC nor an MCC under MS-DRG v44.0.